When we get in the car I pull out my phone and text Luca.
Emergency. I need a team at Chase Bank on Fifth. Safe deposit box under Caterina Bellandi's name. Tell the men to get that key in the safe behind the Venice painting in her room and everything in the box tonight.
And find out where she keeps her spare. We're taking everything. I am sending the combination to open the safe.
The response comes immediately:Consider it done.
I lean back against the seat and close my eyes.
The violence doesn't bother me anymore. Used to, when I was younger. When I thought there was a difference between monsters and men.
Now I know better.
We're all monsters. The only question is what we're willing to be monstrous for.
And for Bianca?
I'll be the worst monster this city has ever seen.
CHAPTER FORTY
Bianca
The call comes at 9:47 pm.
I'm in Dante's study, trying to focus on grading papers but really just waiting for him to come home. He left three hours ago with that look on his face—the one that means someone's about to have a very bad night.
My phone lights up. Unknown number.
I answer anyway. "Hello?"
"Miss Mancini?" The voice is female, professional, familiar. "This is Patricia from St. Catherine's Medical Center."
My stomach drops.
"Your mother has taken a turn. The doctor thinks you should come now."
The world tilts.
"How bad?"
"Just come as quickly as you can." Her voice cracks slightly. "Please."
The line goes dead.
I'm moving before I can think. Grabbing my coat. My phone.
I try Dante first. It rings once, then routes to voicemail.
Shit.
He's probably still in the meeting or in some warehouse with blocked signals and men who want him dead.
I call again. Voicemail.
Again. Voicemail.
As much as I want to tell him before I leave, I can't wait. Mom doesn't have time for me to wait, and if she really has little time left, I want to say my goodbyes.
